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To be honest, as human beings we've evolved over millions of years to be able to handle all of this stuff. If you are immuno-compromised or otherwise in poor h

To be honest, as human beings we've evolved over millions of years to be able to handle all of this stuff. If you are immuno-compromised or otherwise in poor health, then maybe these are worth something, but I highly doubt it. The volume of air they "purify" versus a given room is nothing. Imagine visualizing the air around you in a room that you are breathing, do you think a small device in the corner with a HEPA filter is going to solve anything? It's all smoke and mirrors.

samstave 7y ago
Ha! I totally agree with you. I never take any meds. Not even aspirin or ibuprofen. My immune system is very strong - what we should be doing is gut biome transplants - not hepa and hand sanitizer crap.
shock 7y ago
> To be honest, as human beings we've evolved over millions of years to be able to handle all of this stuff. I don't think ever before in human history there have been as many particulates in the air as they are now (except when a volcano erupted, until the ash settled). Additionally, "handling all this stuff" doesn't come for free: I don't have them on hand, but in the previous HN discussions about pollution there have been several papers linked on the effects of pollution on cognitive ability and health in general.
- eternalny1 7y ago
  Since you are comparing the amount of particulates in the air to a volcanic eruption ... How is your HEPA filter in the corner going to handle that? Not well, at all.
  - eternalny1 7y ago
    I like how I'm being down-voted for this but nobody has yet proven me wrong in terms of scientific numbers regarding air volumes and particulates. I have a comment from someone saying they were saved from brush fire smoke, yet no indication they'd have been harmed without the air purifier. This is exactly what the article is talking about, wanting to believe in something that is scientifically unproven.
    - shock 7y ago
      It is nobody's job to prove you wrong or right – it is a discussion, everybody is free to act as they please within the bounds of the law. Based on the tone of your remarks it doesn't appear to me that you desire a discussion, rather a confrontation, so I will refrain from spending more time on this matter. You are free to choose what you believe :)
      - eternalny1 7y ago
        > Based on the tone of your remarks it doesn't appear to me that you desire a discussion Untrue, I actually own this device.
cmroanirgo 7y ago
Your argument is incredibly naive. As an Aussie an air purifier saved me from the bushfire smoke and the subsequent dust that was relentless for months. I tried for about a week without one, and nearly ended in hospital multiple times. The air purifier made a safe little haven that was the only place I could breathe without discomfort. After 1.5 months I needed to change the filter as it began to spew out dust and smoke because it was all clogged up. (It was supposed to last 12 months in average conditions) On the worst days when you couldn't see more than short distances, and the filter was running flat out, I found that a ceiling fan helped circulate the air so that 2 rooms (about 25 sqm) were regularly filtered and clean.
- eternalny1 7y ago
  > As an Aussie an air purifier saved me from the bushfire smoke and the subsequent dust that was relentless for months. It "saved you"? So you honestly thought you'd die if not for an air purifier? Check out how much of a % of actual air move through your air purifier, unless you were truly scared for your life and were locked in a small closet with the purifier, I highly doubt this saved your life. I'm not being hyperbolic, I'm being realistic.
  - cmroanirgo 7y ago
    Being reductive, hyperbolic and dismissive is in no way being realistic. I never stated I'd die. I never stated I was fearful. It saved me from being subject to outside conditions that caused significant effects in my lungs and subsequent cognitive ability (hn is not where I reveal health issues in depth). My environment was significantly cleaner than any commercial air con. The month leading up to my purchase, I was increasingly forced indoors, where air con made a tiny difference (but not much). In those early days the air stank and was just very hazy. People with healthy lungs had no problem during that period. I wore carbon n95 masks everywhere (they're classed p2 here) outside. As to the machine, it was supposedly rated for up to 70sqm which I highly doubt, which is why I also used a ceiling fan. It also has an air quality readout to ensure I was not self deceiving. I know enough about fans, filtration and flow rates to not be deceived by marketing hyperbole.

samstave 7y ago

Ha! I totally agree with you. I never take any meds. Not even aspirin or ibuprofen. My immune system is very strong - what we should be doing is gut biome transplants - not hepa and hand sanitizer crap.

shock 7y ago

> To be honest, as human beings we've evolved over millions of years to be able to handle all of this stuff. I don't think ever before in human history there have been as many particulates in the air as they are now (except when a volcano erupted, until the ash settled). Additionally, "handling all this stuff" doesn't come for free: I don't have them on hand, but in the previous HN discussions about pollution there have been several papers linked on the effects of pollution on cognitive ability and health in general.

eternalny1 7y ago
Since you are comparing the amount of particulates in the air to a volcanic eruption ... How is your HEPA filter in the corner going to handle that? Not well, at all.
- eternalny1 7y ago
  I like how I'm being down-voted for this but nobody has yet proven me wrong in terms of scientific numbers regarding air volumes and particulates. I have a comment from someone saying they were saved from brush fire smoke, yet no indication they'd have been harmed without the air purifier. This is exactly what the article is talking about, wanting to believe in something that is scientifically unproven.
  - shock 7y ago
    It is nobody's job to prove you wrong or right – it is a discussion, everybody is free to act as they please within the bounds of the law. Based on the tone of your remarks it doesn't appear to me that you desire a discussion, rather a confrontation, so I will refrain from spending more time on this matter. You are free to choose what you believe :)
    - eternalny1 7y ago
      > Based on the tone of your remarks it doesn't appear to me that you desire a discussion Untrue, I actually own this device.

cmroanirgo 7y ago

Your argument is incredibly naive. As an Aussie an air purifier saved me from the bushfire smoke and the subsequent dust that was relentless for months. I tried for about a week without one, and nearly ended in hospital multiple times. The air purifier made a safe little haven that was the only place I could breathe without discomfort. After 1.5 months I needed to change the filter as it began to spew out dust and smoke because it was all clogged up. (It was supposed to last 12 months in average conditions) On the worst days when you couldn't see more than short distances, and the filter was running flat out, I found that a ceiling fan helped circulate the air so that 2 rooms (about 25 sqm) were regularly filtered and clean.

eternalny1 7y ago
> As an Aussie an air purifier saved me from the bushfire smoke and the subsequent dust that was relentless for months. It "saved you"? So you honestly thought you'd die if not for an air purifier? Check out how much of a % of actual air move through your air purifier, unless you were truly scared for your life and were locked in a small closet with the purifier, I highly doubt this saved your life. I'm not being hyperbolic, I'm being realistic.
- cmroanirgo 7y ago
  Being reductive, hyperbolic and dismissive is in no way being realistic. I never stated I'd die. I never stated I was fearful. It saved me from being subject to outside conditions that caused significant effects in my lungs and subsequent cognitive ability (hn is not where I reveal health issues in depth). My environment was significantly cleaner than any commercial air con. The month leading up to my purchase, I was increasingly forced indoors, where air con made a tiny difference (but not much). In those early days the air stank and was just very hazy. People with healthy lungs had no problem during that period. I wore carbon n95 masks everywhere (they're classed p2 here) outside. As to the machine, it was supposedly rated for up to 70sqm which I highly doubt, which is why I also used a ceiling fan. It also has an air quality readout to ensure I was not self deceiving. I know enough about fans, filtration and flow rates to not be deceived by marketing hyperbole.